Summary
This field trial demonstrates that reducing phosphorus fertiliser inputs in an Ultisol supporting maize-soybean intercropping enhances the recovery and utilisation of legacy soil phosphorus reserves, whilst maintaining or improving crop yields. The findings suggest that strategic fertiliser reduction can simultaneously improve resource-use efficiency and soil health in this intercropping system. The work has implications for sustainable intensification and phosphorus stewardship in tropical and subtropical agricultural regions.
UK applicability
Whilst Ultisols are not predominant in the UK, the principle of legacy phosphorus recovery through fertiliser rate optimisation is broadly relevant to UK arable systems where soil phosphorus has accumulated. The intercropping system itself has limited direct application to mainstream UK practice, but the nutrient cycling insights may inform phosphorus management strategy.
Key measures
Soil available phosphorus, Olsen-extractable phosphorus, plant phosphorus uptake, maize and soybean grain yields, intercropping system productivity metrics
Outcomes reported
The study measured soil phosphorus availability, crop yield, and nutrient uptake in response to reduced phosphorus fertiliser application under maize-soybean intercropping. It assessed how legacy soil phosphorus (accumulated from previous applications) can be mobilised when exogenous phosphorus inputs are reduced.
Topic tags
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